Resumen de Introducing the epigenetic landscape into middle-years biology teaching

Neil Ingram

• Conrad Hal Waddington’s epigenetic landscape is now a central paradigm in evolutionary developmental biology. This article proposes that it should be adopted into middle-years (ages 11–16) biology curricula as a way of visualising the interactions of the genome with the environment. The epigenetic landscape is explained, with some biographical detail of Waddington’s achievements. Two narratives are then presented for middle-years biology classes: the differentiation of human stem cells and the formation of leaf shape in the water crowfoot, Ranunculus aquatilis.

  The benefits of including epigenetic landscape in middle-years biology curricula are considered.